To explore patients' experiences of undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty and the associated rehabilitation process.
Qualitative semistructured, individual in-depth interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Participants were recruited strategically in terms of gender, age and geographic area, from three different hospitals in the region of Western Sweden. The interviews were conducted by the study leader (MS), an experienced physiotherapist with extensive clinical experience in outpatient orthopedic rehabilitation. The interviews were performed 6 to 12 months after the surgery. Fifteen participants, including ten women, were recruited for the study. Age ranging from 53 to 83 years. Three individuals were still working, while twelve were retired or working part-time.
The preliminary analysis revealed four categories; “The body controls the every-day life”, “A new life”, “Being seen and feeling safe, makes a difference”, “Adapting to a new every-day life” and associated subcategories. The patients expressed that being well prepared for the surgery was of great importance to feel reassured postoperatively. They also described how the new shoulder joint made it possible for them to return to activities that previously had been impossible which created great value for them. Patients who experienced that they had not received sufficient pre-operative information expressed concerns and anxieties that they were not making satisfactory progress, and that something was failing. Although, the sling could provide a feeling of safety and protection patients also expressed feelings of being restricted and trapped in the shoulder sling. The participants expressed a high level of trust in the treating physiotherapist. Trust in the physiotherapist’s expertise and regular contact provided reassurance throughout recovery, from initial pain to returning to daily activities. However, the patient’s self-efficacy in returning to physical activities was described as more variable.
The study emphasizes the need for individualized postoperative care to ensure patient security. Adequate preoperative preparation is crucial to shaping the postoperative experience. The physiotherapist must adapt support to each patient’s needs during rehabilitation following reverse shoulder arthroplasty. The new shoulder joint enabled a return to previously impossible activities, enhancing patient quality of life.
Thorough preoperative preparation significantly influenced the postoperative experience. The treating physiotherapist needs to be responsive to each patient in order to provide appropriate individualized support during rehabilitation following reverse shoulder arthroplasty. Clinical guidelines need to be updated accordingly to become more responsive to each person's needs. Guidelines should advise the physiotherapist to confidently provide individualized advice prior to surgery and throughout the rehabilitation process, thereby improving physiotherapeutic management.
physiotherapy
qualitative research
